Jackie Bradley Jr.’s a big hit in NY

Author(s):

Scott Lauber

Red Sox Notebook

NEW YORK — Say this for Jackie Bradley Jr.: He isn’t intimidated by Yankee Stadium.

Making his second straight start for the Red Sox in place of injured center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, Bradley went 3-for-5 with two doubles in last night’s 11-1 rout of the New York Yankees. The rookie entered with only four hits in 15 major league games and hadn’t had an extra-base hit since April 4.

“Felt good,” Bradley said. “Got some pitches I could handle and felt very comfortable at the plate.”

At the big league level, at least, it has been a while since Bradley could say that.

Bradley began the season with the Red Sox and went only 3-for-31 before being sent to Triple-A Pawtucket. But he played well in the season-opening series in New York, reaching base five times in 14 plate appearances against the Yankees.

“I’ve played here more than any other field since I’ve been a pro in MLB,” Bradley said. “It’s great being able to come out here and also help the team get a win.”

Bradley’s third-inning double sailed over Yankees center fielder Brett Gardner’s head, while his double in the eighth inning when to left field. He’s 4-for-10 since being recalled from Pawtucket.

“Ironically, after two weeks of being hurt, I just came back in a groove, so to speak,” Bradley, who dealt with shoulder tendinitis last month, said. “I started feeling good a few days before I went on the (disabled list). Those two weeks, I was pretty much itching to get back on the field. After that, things started clicking.”

Ellsbury, meanwhile, exhibited “encouraging” improvement in his tight left hamstring, according to manager John Farrell, who said the Red Sox are “not ruling out” a return for tonight’s series finale.

Grand achievement

First baseman Mike Napoli forged a 5-1 lead in the third inning and became the first Red Sox player since outfielder Ryan Kalish in 2010 to hit multiple grand slams in a season.

Napoli’s slam came after the Yankees decided to intentionally walk designated hitter David Ortiz. In four plate appearances after an intentional walk, Napoli is 2-for-3 with two homers and eight RBI.

“I like protecting (Ortiz) and maybe giving managers another thought of doing that,” Napoli said. “I can only go up there and have a plan. It’s working out when they’re walking hitters. I’m going to keep on trying to do it. I’m going to be hitting behind (Ortiz), so the more I come through, hopefully the less they do it.” . . .

Mike Carp made his first career start as a right fielder and finished 2-for-3 with a double that drove in the first run in a five-run third. . . .

Third baseman Will Middlebrooks (back) took swings in the batting cage and is scheduled to progress to batting practice on the field today. . . .

Right fielder Shane Victorino (hamstring, back) is still on target to begin a brief minor league rehab assignment tomorrow.

Iglesias may stay

With Middlebrooks expected to return from the disabled list next weekend, Farrell said the Red Sox are considering keeping infielder Jose Iglesias in the majors, even though he would no longer be in the lineup on a regular basis.

“We haven’t ruled out that he would remain here in a utility role,” Farrell said.

Two reasons for the Red Sox rethinking their course with Iglesias: The 23-year-old has had far greater success in the majors this season than in the minors, and utility infielder Pedro Ciriaco has struggled, batting only .239 (11-for-46) and committing seven errors (three at shortstop, four at third base).

Iglesias opened the season at shortstop for the Red Sox and went 9-for-20 (.450) in six games. But when shortstop Stephen Drew returned from a spring-training concussion, Iglesias was sent to Pawtucket, where he batted only .202 (24-for-119) with a .262 on-base percentage and was benched for three games by manager Gary DiSarcina.

To increase their depth, the Red Sox recently began to expose Iglesias to third base. And since he was recalled, Iglesias has started hitting again, going 13-for-31 to up his average in the majors this season to .431 in 15 games (22-for-51).

Noted for his dazzling defense at shortstop, Iglesias has shown aptitude at third base. At this point, the only thing keeping the Sox from being completely confident in his ability to fill the utility role is his lack of experience at second base, according to Farrell.

“He’s a very good middle infielder, as we know. He just hasn’t had the repetition on the pivot from the second base side,” Farrell said. “That doesn’t mean that we would say that we’ve got to send him back (to Triple A) to do that, to keep him there.”